Recovery of the Respiratory System Following Blast Injury

Abstract

The pattern of recovery of the respiratory system from blast injury was investigated in sheep exposed to overpressures in a shock tube. Measurements of the pH and blood gas tensions, determinations of the venous- admixture (Qs/Q) and the alveolararterial oxygen gradient (A-a)O2 were conducted before and at intervals up to 132 days following injury. There was an immediate marked increase in Qs/Q, reduction in PaO2, and a moderate increase in (A-a)O2, with very little change in the pH or PCO2 of the arterial blood. The greatest recovery was evident within 24 hours with further gradual improvement seen 2, 7, 14, and 21 days after exposure. After the 21st day, most of the animals exhibited virtual complete recovery of the functional efficiency of the pulmonary system as tested at rest.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0718369

Entities

People

  • Edward G. Damon
  • John T. Yelverton
  • Robert K. Jones
  • Ulrich C. Luft

Organizations

  • Lovelace Foundation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Biological Sciences
  • Blast Injuries
  • Blood Gases
  • Body Temperature
  • Department Of Defense
  • Gases
  • Health Services
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Lung Diseases
  • Military Research
  • Navy
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Respiratory System
  • Wounds And Injuries

Readers

  • Exercise and Sports Science.
  • Geochemistry
  • Mathematics or Statistics